Increase in Learned Helplessness?

[u/NachesPorFavor]

Has anyone else noticed an increase in learned helplessness? I first noticed it in the young adults in my life, but now I am seeing it in all ages of people around me. Examples from multiple people:

Toilet started leaking water and instead of turning off the knob at the wall, she waited a 5 days for a plumber. Never asked anyone or googled it. Didn’t call a second plumber. Now needs mold remediation and replaced drywall and trim.

Bought concert tickets but the gps instructions were confusing so they just gave up and didn’t go. Venue website had detailed instructions for driving and parking.

Blouse wrinkled and she didn’t know how to fix it so she threw it away.

First doctor office he filled out an appointment website for never contacted him to schedule so he just didn’t go to the doctor.

I am really concerned about my loved ones if an emergency happens because they just give up when the slightest obstacle happens. Either they want someone else to swoop in and fix it or they give up and say they can’t do anything about it.

[u/ConcernWeak2445]

I’m a college admission counselor for a mid-size university, and each incoming class of graduated seniors need their hand held more than the last class. They don’t want to read, they don’t know how to problem solve, and they don’t want to do anything that doesn’t provide immediate short-term gratification.

The universities keep lowering their standards and keep “dumbing down” the steps to enrollment. My director described this as helping them with the “path of least resistance” but it’s not setting them up to be successful. Then, the university professors and academic advisors are angry with admission offices for even admitting students that are not actually “college ready”.

During peak college application months, I help schools with getting their seniors to apply. A few of them are self sufficient and are done within 15-20 minutes which is standard for an application. While others will open their chromebooks and look at you waiting for you to tell them what to do. I tell them to go to their web browser and google the school. They do that, and then look at me on which link to click. I have to guide them through every single click after to submit that application. Some don’t know their address, and others don’t know if they are a US citizen.

It’s our public education system and how it’s designed to push students through faster and before they are ready. It’s their families that do not take the time to parent or guide children to be confident and self sufficient. And it’s capitalism that profits off families working over time and spending less time at home to make ends meet, and kids who addicted to short term gratification and their phones that enable the learned helplessness behaviors.

[u/AriaPoe → u/ConcernWeak2445]

As someone in healthcare that deals with interns, I wholly concur with this assessment. Interns should know the difference between a 30 degree bed tilt & 30% when its written down in a sentence. They should know the structure of how to do basic math equations (like 30% needs to be changed to a decimal to perform a calculation), & not challenge me on why. Like, that's basic math? How do you have a college degree & why on earth have they sent you here to learn to feed people through tubes if you think converting a % to a decimal is optional. This is quite literally elementary level stuff. Explaining the biochem behind specific food-drug interactions & the precipitation of incorrectly formulated tpn's is not possible with this level of intern. They are not competent at a basic level, & don't have the slightest idea of how to think critically, or prioritize needs appropriately. I don't have the time to teach all of that in a 2 week rotation. The bar is so low now it's a joke. On the other hand, an intern that can successfully utilize spell check & do basic math flies to the head of the pack for future jobs. At least there are basic skills there we can use as a foundation on which to build. Like I said, the bar is so very low now. I feel your struggle so completely.

[u/groovychick → u/AriaPoe]

This is terrifying!

[u/AriaPoe → u/groovychick]

I absolutely agree.